Overcast skies and cooler temperatures provided ideal conditions for another exciting day of tennis at the BRAWO Open in Braunschweig, where four second-round singles matches and four doubles encounters were contested on Thursday.

The day’s action began with Facundo Diaz Acosta taking on Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas. The Argentine left-hander, who had eliminated Germany’s Rudolf Molleker in the opening round, gradually took control with his heavy topspin groundstrokes and relentless movement. Although Gaubas saved five match points, Diaz Acosta closed out a 6-4, 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals.

“It was a tough, intense match. I’m very happy to have come through,” said Diaz Acosta, who first competed in Braunschweig in 2021 and now looks like one of the tournament favourites.

Home favourite Niels McDonald continued his impressive run with another straight-sets victory. The 18-year-old German, who won the boys’ title at the 2025 French Open and entered the tournament with a German Tennis Federation wild card, backed up his opening-round win over Keegan Smith by defeating Czech Martin Krumich 6-4, 6-4. Remaining calm and composed throughout the long baseline rallies, McDonald became the second German teenager, after Diego Dedura, to reach the quarterfinals.

“I’m incredibly relieved, overwhelmed and so happy to be in the quarter-finals. This is the biggest tournament I’ve ever played. Braunschweig is unbelievable,” McDonald said after his victory.

German qualifier Mika Petkovic came close to another upset but was eventually denied by eighth seed Hugo Gaston. Petkovic claimed a tightly contested opening-set tiebreak before the crafty Frenchman turned the match around with his trademark variety, mixing high balls, drop shots and even underarm serves to disrupt the German’s rhythm. Gaston completed the comeback 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 after more than two hours.

The final singles match of the day saw Marvin Moeller produce an outstanding performance against second seed Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. The German dominated from the outset and was leading 6-3, 5-0 when the Paraguayan Davis Cup player was forced to retire through injury, sending Moeller into the quarterfinals as the final player to complete the last-eight line-up.

What a moment for Marvin Moeller!

He earns his first career Top 100-win, defeating Vallejo in straight sets in front of his home fans.#ATPChallenger | 🇩🇪 Braunschweig pic.twitter.com/0387fW0bHN

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) July 9, 2026